Freedom of Information request statistics: FOI release

Information requested

1. How many requests for information made under FOISA has the Scottish Government received between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023?

2. Of those requests, how many received a full response within the 20 working day limit as set out in FOISA?

3. Of those requests, how many were either fully or partially refused by the Scottish Government?

4. Of those requests, how many were either fully or partially refused by the Scottish Government because it argued some or all of the information fell under exemptions contained in either section 29 or 30 of FOISA?

5. Of those requests, how many were either fully or partially refused by the Scottish Government because it argued that to provide the information would cost over £600?

6. Of those requests, how many received a fees notice?

7. Of those requests, how many were either fully or partially refused by the Scottish Government because it argued that the request was repeated?

8. Of those requests, how many were either fully or partially refused by the Scottish Government because it argued that the request was vexatious?

9. Of those requests that were refused, how many were then subject to a request for review under the provisions of FOISA?

10. Of the requests that were reviewed, how many received a response to the request to review within the 20 working days set out by FOISA?

11. Of the requests that were reviewed, how many responses either fully or partially overturned the original response?

Response

For clarity I have numbered each of your questions, and will now answer each in turn. Please note the following responses relate to requests made under the FOISA legislation, the EIRs are not included within the figures –

1. How many requests for information made under FOISA has the Scottish Government received between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023

4459

2. Of those requests, how many received a full response within the 20 working day limit as set out in FOISA?

1434

We have interpreted this ask as querying how many cases received in this period both met their deadline and received a full response, with no exemptions or redactions applied. Those requests that met their deadline but did not release all information requested have not been included in this figure.

Please note, 110 Cases received in 2023 had yet to pass their 20 day working deadline as of the date of receipt of this FOI.

3. Of those requests, how many were either fully or partially refused by the Scottish Government?

2082

4. Of those requests, how many were either fully or partially refused by the Scottish Government because it argued some or all of the information fell under exemptions contained in either section 29 or 30 of FOISA?

653

5. Of those requests, how many were either fully or partially refused by the Scottish Government because it argued that to provide the information would cost over £600?

215

6. Of those requests, how many received a fees notice?

The answer to your question is zero. This is because the Scottish Government does not issue fees notices in relation to anything requested under FOISA or the EIRs. Information is considered to be unrecorded if it can only be inferred by the absence of recorded information as is the case here.

This is therefore a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

7. Of those requests, how many were either fully or partially refused by the Scottish Government because it argued that the request was repeated?

15

8. Of those requests, how many were either fully or partially refused by the Scottish Government because it argued that the request was vexatious?

12

9. Of those requests that were refused, how many were then subject to a request for review under the provisions of FOISA?

347

10. Of the requests that were reviewed, how many received a response to the request to review within the 20 working days set out by FOISA?

249

11. Of the requests that were reviewed, how many responses either fully or partially overturned the original response?

39

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.